Milan is increasingly attracting international homebuyers seeking a European base, driven by factors such as Italy’s flat-tax regime for foreign residents and the city’s status as a global hub for design and fashion. Between January and May 2026, foreign mortgage applications across Italy rose 63 percent compared with the previous year, with Milan experiencing significant demand that contributed to a 6.3 percent increase in housing prices year-on-year. The average price per square meter in Milan was estimated at €4,650 at the end of 2025, according to a recent property market report.
Several expatriates living in Milan shared their insights and practical advice on navigating the city’s competitive property market, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for prospective buyers and renters.
JJ Martin, a fashion designer and founder of La DoubleJ who relocated from New York 25 years ago, stresses the importance of exploration and personal contact. She recommends cycling through preferred neighbourhoods and speaking to building doormen to uncover potential listings. Martin notes Milan’s architectural blend—especially fascist-era and rationalist styles—often conceals beautifully renovated interiors. She advises prioritising durable flooring materials such as terrazzo or speckled marble over balconies, which can require high maintenance. Martin also emphasizes that apartments commonly come unfurnished, typically without kitchens, closets, or lighting, as these elements are considered personal property under Italian law.
Laura May Todd, a design writer originally from London, describes a drawn-out and somewhat unpredictable purchasing process. She and her husband bought properties first in Dergano and later on the canalside in Martesana after a year-long negotiation. Todd highlights the importance of keeping abreast of evolving Italian building regulations, including recent requirements to certify full compliance of any prior renovations before initiating new work. She recommends vintage and antique shopping, both online and at regional flea markets and monthly canal vintage fairs, to style homes authentically.
Other expats underscore the practicalities involved in living in Milan’s older buildings. A former financier, who preferred anonymity, advises newcomers to invest in portable heating due to strict communal heating rules that activate only below certain temperatures, making winters notably cold indoors. He also cautions that Milan is primarily a work-focused city, and social integration may be limited if one is not engaged professionally.
Tina Lutz Morris, founder of Lutz Morris accessories, moved to Milan recently and suggests using specialized property search agencies to navigate the complex and fragmented local market. These agencies charge a flat fee unrelated to the purchase price and can arrange multiple viewings in a single day, streamlining a typically sporadic viewing schedule. According to her, trusting the process despite its perceived chaos is essential, and expats should leverage community networks for support.
Edward Barber, a furniture designer who moved to Milan from London, points to the prevalence of long-term rental contracts in the city, often with eight-year minimum terms, making turnover low and off-market opportunities more relevant for buyers. He also advises caution in interpreting online listings, as photographs and floor plans are frequently outdated or misleading, often requiring in-person visits to assess properties accurately. For UK buyers, he notes that offers are binding under the Italian Proposta Irrevocabile di Acquisto system, where once an offer is accepted, the purchaser is contractually obligated to proceed.
Natasha Law, founder of Pocca, recommends relying heavily on word of mouth and building relationships in Milan’s tight-knit property market, emphasizing speed and flexibility given the limited and fast-moving inventory. She also highlights the lack of studio-sharing options common in other major cities, often leading creatives to convert living spaces into multifunctional studios.
Collectively, these experiences reflect a competitive housing environment shaped by local regulations, evolving market dynamics, and cultural nuances. Milan’s appeal to international buyers continues to grow, but the process demands patience, adaptability, and local knowledge.